Hydroxide-bridged dizinc(ii) complexes, offering a hydrogen bonding based cavity, illustrate highly selective turn-on sensing of ATP in the presence of other competing anions, such as AMP, ADP, PPi and other phosphates.

The synthesis and isolation of an ambient stable perylenediimide radical anion is reported, and its precursor is established as one of the strongest electron acceptors. The radical anion shows absorption up to 1400 nm and is stable in mixed aqueous solution. Interestingly, the radical anion can organize two electron-deficient molecules over its surface to form a π-stacked array. Calculations revealed weak spin polarization via noncovalent interactions. Such interactions are of significance for magnetic exchange and catalysis.

Amide-benzothiazole based receptors act as highly selective chemosensors for Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) ions both in solution and in the solid state. Binding and crystallographic studies have been used to shed light on the mechanism of interaction between chemosensors and metal ions.

Heterometallic coordination polymers function as heterogeneous catalysts for various organic transformation reactions via preferential interaction with the substrates.

Amide-based ligands H2L(1), H2L(2) and H2L(3) containing thiazole, thiazoline and benzothiazole appended groups have been used to synthesize Zn(2+) ( and ), Cd(2+) complexes ( and ), and a Mn(2+) complex (). In all cases, potentially multidentate ligands create a meridional N3 coordination environment around the M(ii) ion whereas additional sites are occupied by labile nitrate ions in and MeOH in . Interestingly, metal complexation caused the migration of protons from amidic N-H sites to the appended heterocyclic rings in complexes . Structural studies show that the protonated heterocyclic rings in these complexes create a hydrogen bond based cavity adjacent to the metal ion. Importantly, binding studies confirm that the substrates are bound within the complex cavity closer to the Lewis acidic metal in all complexes including the oxidation-sensitive Mn ion in complex . All complexes have been utilized as the reusable and heterogeneous catalysts for ring-opening reactions of assorted epoxides, cyanation reactions of various aldehydes, and epoxidation reactions of several olefins.